The Ventures are one of the great rock instrumental groups of all time.
Formed in the late 1950's by Bob Bogle and Don Wilson in Seattle, Washington,
and later joined by Mel Taylor and Nokie Edwards,
the group hit it big with the release of Walk-Don't Run.

To date, they
have released more than 150 albums globally (85 in the U.S.), selling in excess
of 85 million copies.

Other hits have included Pipeline, Wipeout, Perfidia, Hawaii
Five-O, and Telstar.

The group is a particular favorite in Japan, having toured there often over
the years.

There are a handful of web sites dedicated to the group, many with
complicated discography's and band history. In contrast, my site
is simply a few autographs and photos from late 90's tour stops, a
fabulous
Surfin' To Baja cruise, and 2006-2007 performances.

Folks, the Ventures represent many things to many people, be it the
surf music of summer, or perhaps simply a fond memory of listening to
their music in simpler times, but whatever they represent, they are an
American icon so far as pioneering instrumental classic rock.

The guitar work by Don Wilson, Nokie
Edwards, Bob Spalding and guest Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, along with
Leon Wilson on drums is stunning!
Tour manager Jack DeFranco went
above and beyond the call of duty when it came to ensuring a great
show--thanks Jack!

The Ventures were a key part of the 1960's surf music
explosion. Shown is the "Surfing" CD which was a
mid-1990's expanded follow-up to the group's "Surfing"
LP. I often play both the CD and Mono vinyl LP release from the
1960's (Dolton BLP-2022 ).

A bunch of signed stuff here, including the
"Surfing" CD cover; 1998 Ventures publicity shot; and signed
photo collage from their greatest hits album (click for enlarged
versions).

Venture's D'Andrea guitar
picks. There is one Bob Bogle and three Don Wilson signature picks
shown (both sides shown). Bob and Don autographed them, and I think Gerry may have as
well.

I had been a fan for some years, but never seen the group live until their
1998 east coast tour.

The first stop was DAR Constitution Hall where the group "jammed"
with The United States Air Force Band, Singing Sergeants, and Air Force Reserve
Pipe Band. A big highlight was when the Ventures' first drummer,
General George T. Babbitt, joined the group for their classic, Walk-Don't Run.
Check out photos for this once in a lifetime event.

Do not miss this rare March 1, 1998 performance
video featuring The Ventures along with General George T. Babbitt
playing Walk, Don't Run!

Next up was Alexandria, Virginia's Birchmere Music Hall,
a venue that books top national acts. Check out group pictures
and memorabilia

Still wanting even more live Ventures, I headed to
Annapolis, Maryland, a lovely city on the Chesapeake Bay, and caught the
group one more time at The Rams Head. Some guy brought in a surfboard
for group signatures, to which band member Bob Bogle commented "we
have signed everything" (with tongue-in-cheek emphasis on
"everything"). Sure Bob, did this include
body autographs on the lovely Wild Again poster model that first graced
the cover of Walk Don't Run Vol2 (Dolton BLP-2031)?

The Venture's Webmaster (who operates the official Ventures
website) did a 2000 mile road trip in March 2002 to catch the Venture's in
action at the Midnight At The Oasis car show, Yuma, Arizona.

Click the picture or here
to see some great photos, and his narrative.

Grammy Award-Winner
Art Greenhaw of The Light Crust Doughboys joined his biggest guitar
and instrumental influences, 2006 Grammy Hall of Famers, The Ventures,
for their super-charged concert before thousands of cheering fans at the
National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show, January 20, 2006 at
the Anaheim, California Convention Center. Introduced to the cheering
crowd which filled every inch of the convention center lobby and all the
center`s balconies by Ventures` co-founder Don Wilson, Art played
Ventures-style bass guitar on The Ventures` signature encore number,
"Caravan", joining his long-time idols
Nokie Edwards on lead guitar and Don on rhythm guitar. (source:
Guitar
Nine Records News, January 2006)

Art Greenhaw (3rd from left) and The Light Crust Doughboys, complete
with their new
Light Crust Doughboys
Model ASC guitars.